batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

[Guest eganders]

Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

"tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these statements be

changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

properly?

 

date >> tracetest.txt < nul

time >> tracetest.txt < nul

 

I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run. This

works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

98.

 

microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

[Guest PCR]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

eganders wrote:

| Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

| for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

| "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these statements be

| changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

| properly?

|

| date >> tracetest.txt < nul

| time >> tracetest.txt < nul

 

Instead of nul, try to input the ENTER key-- but I don't know how to do

it! (Nul, for me, created a monstrosity of a file! No one else should

ever try it!)

 

Alternatively, look for something here...

http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/batfiles.htm

 

But I haven't been able to find it, myself, after 1/2 hour's study!

 

| I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

| section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

| date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

| date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

| stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run. This

| works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

| garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

| 98.

|

| microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

 

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

[Guest John Dulak]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

eganders wrote:

> Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

> for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

> "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these statements be

> changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

> properly?

>

> date >> tracetest.txt < nul

> time >> tracetest.txt < nul

>

> I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

> section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

> date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

> date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

> stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run. This

> works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

> garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

> 98.

>

> microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

 

 

eganders:

 

You might try asking in:

 

alt.msdos.batch

 

 

HTH & GL

 

John

 

 

--

\\\||///

------------------o000----(o)(o)----000o----------------

----------------------------()--------------------------

'' Madness takes its toll - Please have exact change. ''

 

John Dulak - Gnomeway Services - http://tinyurl.com/2qs6o6

[Guest eganders]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

On Mar 3, 7:52 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:

> eganders wrote:

>

> | Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

> | for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

> | "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want?  Can these statements be

> | changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

> | properly?

> |

> | date >> tracetest.txt < nul

> | time >> tracetest.txt < nul

>

> Instead of nul, try to input the ENTER key-- but I don't know how to do

> it! (Nul, for me, created a monstrosity of a file! No one else should

> ever try it!)

>

> Alternatively, look for something here...http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/batfiles.htm

>

> But I haven't been able to find it, myself, after 1/2 hour's study!

>

> | I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

> | section of a file prior to running a test.  I need to identify the

> | date and time that the test is run.  Each time the test is run, the

> | date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

> | stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run.  This

> | works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

> | garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

> | 98.

> |

> | microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

>

> --

> Thanks or Good Luck,

> There may be humor in this post, and,

> Naturally, you will not sue,

> Should things get worse after this,

> PCR

> pcr...@netzero.net

 

Someone suggested

 

echo %date% >> tracetest.txt

echo %time% >> tracetest.txt

 

for Windows XP and it created a much better header of just the date

and time instead of a bunch of garbage around it.

 

However, does it work with Windows 98?? I don't have Windows 98

handy. Can someone try it and let me know if those two statments work

in Windows 98 without causing it to chock?

 

Thanks

[Guest John Dulak]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

eganders wrote:

> On Mar 3, 7:52 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:

>> eganders wrote:

>>

>> | Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

>> | for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

>> | "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these statements be

>> | changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

>> | properly?

>> |

>> | date >> tracetest.txt < nul

>> | time >> tracetest.txt < nul

>>

>> Instead of nul, try to input the ENTER key-- but I don't know how to do

>> it! (Nul, for me, created a monstrosity of a file! No one else should

>> ever try it!)

>>

>> Alternatively, look for something here...http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/batfiles.htm

>>

>> But I haven't been able to find it, myself, after 1/2 hour's study!

>>

>> | I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

>> | section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

>> | date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

>> | date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

>> | stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run. This

>> | works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

>> | garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

>> | 98.

>> |

>> | microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

>>

>> --

>> Thanks or Good Luck,

>> There may be humor in this post, and,

>> Naturally, you will not sue,

>> Should things get worse after this,

>> PCR

>> pcr...@netzero.net

>

> Someone suggested

>

> echo %date% >> tracetest.txt

> echo %time% >> tracetest.txt

>

> for Windows XP and it created a much better header of just the date

> and time instead of a bunch of garbage around it.

>

> However, does it work with Windows 98?? I don't have Windows 98

> handy. Can someone try it and let me know if those two statments work

> in Windows 98 without causing it to chock?

>

> Thanks

 

eganders:

 

Just tried both suggested command lines and all I get is a text file with:

 

ECHO is on

 

for each time the command line is run.

 

HTH & GL

 

John

 

--

\\\||///

------------------o000----(o)(o)----000o----------------

----------------------------()--------------------------

'' Madness takes its toll - Please have exact change. ''

 

John Dulak - Gnomeway Services - http://tinyurl.com/2qs6o6

[Guest John Dulak]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

eganders wrote:

> On Mar 3, 7:52 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:

>> eganders wrote:

>>

>> | Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

>> | for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

>> | "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these statements be

>> | changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

>> | properly?

>> |

>> | date >> tracetest.txt < nul

>> | time >> tracetest.txt < nul

>>

>> Instead of nul, try to input the ENTER key-- but I don't know how to do

>> it! (Nul, for me, created a monstrosity of a file! No one else should

>> ever try it!)

>>

>> Alternatively, look for something here...http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/batfiles.htm

>>

>> But I haven't been able to find it, myself, after 1/2 hour's study!

>>

>> | I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

>> | section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

>> | date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

>> | date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

>> | stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run. This

>> | works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

>> | garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

>> | 98.

>> |

>> | microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

>>

>> --

>> Thanks or Good Luck,

>> There may be humor in this post, and,

>> Naturally, you will not sue,

>> Should things get worse after this,

>> PCR

>> pcr...@netzero.net

>

> Someone suggested

>

> echo %date% >> tracetest.txt

> echo %time% >> tracetest.txt

>

> for Windows XP and it created a much better header of just the date

> and time instead of a bunch of garbage around it.

>

> However, does it work with Windows 98?? I don't have Windows 98

> handy. Can someone try it and let me know if those two statments work

> in Windows 98 without causing it to chock?

>

> Thanks

 

eganders:

 

Or try this site:

 

http://www.huweb.hu/maques/realdate.htm#variable

 

John

 

--

\\\||///

------------------o000----(o)(o)----000o----------------

----------------------------()--------------------------

'' Madness takes its toll - Please have exact change. ''

 

John Dulak - Gnomeway Services - http://tinyurl.com/2qs6o6

[Guest Lee]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

On Mar 3, 6:16 pm, eganders <egand...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> On Mar 3, 7:52 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> > eganders wrote:

>

> > | Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

> > | for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

> > | "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want?  Can these statements be

> > | changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

> > | properly?

> > |

> > | date >> tracetest.txt < nul

> > | time >> tracetest.txt < nul

>

> > Instead of nul, try to input the ENTER key-- but I don't know how to do

> > it! (Nul, for me, created a monstrosity of a file! No one else should

> > ever try it!)

>

> > Alternatively, look for something here...http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/batfiles.htm

>

> > But I haven't been able to find it, myself, after 1/2 hour's study!

>

> > | I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

> > | section of a file prior to running a test.  I need to identify the

> > | date and time that the test is run.  Each time the test is run, the

> > | date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

> > | stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run.  This

> > | works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

> > | garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

> > | 98.

> > |

> > | microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

>

> > --

> > Thanks or Good Luck,

> > There may be humor in this post, and,

> > Naturally, you will not sue,

> > Should things get worse after this,

> > PCR

> > pcr...@netzero.net

>

> Someone suggested

>

> echo %date% >> tracetest.txt

> echo %time% >> tracetest.txt

>

> for Windows XP and it created a much better header of just the date

> and time instead of a bunch of garbage around it.

>

> However, does it work with Windows 98??  I don't have Windows 98

> handy.  Can someone try it and let me know if those two statments work

> in Windows 98 without causing it to chock?

>

> Thanks- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

It will not work in Win98 because neither %date% nor %time% are valid

unless you do some more work to assign them values properly - XP is

likely to do this automatically. Another area of contention is the

proper use of double greater than signs. Only one should be used in

the first line to force the creation of the file tracetest.txt and

then two should be used on the second line to cause the second line of

text to be added to the existing file of the same name. Otherwise the

file gets bigger each time it's run with two redirection markers and

it also never gets cleared out of old values.

 

It's really not fair asking for help on two lines taken out of context

like that - your answers very much will not be usable unless we know

fully what you are trying to do in toto. Other newsgroups are a much

more viable place to get answers that will work - you will still be

required to reveal your hand so to speak.

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

Why not use VBS?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Const ForReading = 1, ForWriting = 2, ForAppending = 8

Dim fso, f

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set f = fso.OpenTextFile("C:\Documents and

Settings\Gryst\Desktop\tracetest.txt", ForAppending, True)

f.WriteLine now

f.Close

WScript.Quit

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Edit the above to show correct path to tracetest.txt, save as

"timestamp.vbs". To call from a batch file, use the following:

 

WSCRIPT "full path to timestamp.vbs"

 

(I am attaching a copy in case the above got line-wrapped.)

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"eganders" <eganders@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:03d2aa01-5b21-41b4-817a-c29f43fa9955@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

> Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

> for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

> "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these statements be

> changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

> properly?

>

> date >> tracetest.txt < nul

> time >> tracetest.txt < nul

>

> I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

> section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

> date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

> date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

> stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run. This

> works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

> garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

> 98.

>

> microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

On Mon, 3 Mar 2008 13:23:54 -0800 (PST), eganders <eganders@yahoo.com>

put finger to keyboard and composed:

>Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in tractest.txt

>for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings into the file

>"tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these statements be

>changed in some way so that the date and time are stored in the file

>properly?

 

Win9x batch language is no where near as powerful as NT class batch

language.

>date >> tracetest.txt < nul

>time >> tracetest.txt < nul

>I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

>section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

>date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

>date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results are

>stored in the file appended to the results of the last test run. This

>works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file filled with

>garbage characters when either of these statements are run for Windows

>98.

 

The following single command line will append the date and time to a

filename of your choice. Watch out for word wrap.

 

%COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT $D $T $_ | FIND "-" >>

filename.ext

 

Another less elegant solution is ...

 

echo.| date | find "Current" >> filename.ext

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

On Mon, 3 Mar 2008 19:52:04 -0500, "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> put

finger to keyboard and composed:

>Alternatively, look for something here...

>http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/batfiles.htm

 

I have taken the liberty of reposting the following FAQ notice (from

Prof Timo Salmi):

 

===================================================================

Dear new alt.msdos.batch and alt.msdos.batch.nt readers,

 

Before posing a question you first might wish to take a look at the

following pointers involving the batch/script questions frequently

asked in these newsgroups.

 

Windows Command Line Interface script programming links

http://lipas.uwasa.fi/~ts/http/http2.html#cmdscript

 

MS-DOS+Win../95/98/Me batch programming links

http://lipas.uwasa.fi/~ts/http/http2.html#batch

 

207709 Feb 23 2008 ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/link/tscmd.zip

Http link format http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pub/pc/link/tscmd.zip

tscmd.zip Useful NT/2000/XP script tricks and tips, T.Salmi

 

254761 Nov 11 2005 ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/link/tsbat.zip

Http link format http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pub/pc/link/tsbat.zip

tsbat.zip Useful MS-DOS batch files and tricks, T.Salmi

 

The main scopes of these newsgroups are

alt.msdos.batch MS-DOS+Win../95/98/Me batches

alt.msdos.batch.nt NT/2000/XP/.. scripts

 

Please define your OS when posing a batch/script question.

 

All the best, Timo

 

--

Prof. Timo Salmi ftp & http://garbo.uwasa.fi/ archives 193.166.120.5

Department of Accounting and Business Finance ; University of Vaasa

mailto:ts@uwasa.fi <http://www.uwasa.fi/~ts/> ; FI-65101, Finland

Timo's FAQ materials at http://www.uwasa.fi/~ts/http/tsfaq.html

===================================================================

 

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:19:25 +1100, Franc Zabkar

<fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>The following single command line will append the date and time to a

>filename of your choice. Watch out for word wrap.

>

>%COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT $D $T $_ | FIND "-" >>

>filename.ext

 

You can add your own comments as follows:

 

%COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT Started at $T on $D $_ | FIND

"-" >> filename.ext

 

.... and ...

 

%COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT Finished at $T on $D $_ | FIND

"-" >> filename.ext

 

To add a blank line ...

 

echo.>> filename.ext

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Guest Esra Sdrawkcab]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

Franc Zabkar wrote:

> On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:19:25 +1100, Franc Zabkar

> <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>

>> The following single command line will append the date and time to a

>> filename of your choice. Watch out for word wrap.

>>

>> %COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT $D $T $_ | FIND "-" >>

>> filename.ext

>

> You can add your own comments as follows:

>

> %COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT Started at $T on $D $_ | FIND

> "-" >> filename.ext

>

> ... and ...

>

> %COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT Finished at $T on $D $_ | FIND

> "-" >> filename.ext

>

> To add a blank line ...

>

> echo.>> filename.ext

>

If your local date format doesn't use "-", use something like this:

 

%COMSPEC% /CFOR %%v IN (1 2) DO PROMPT $D $T Started $_ | FIND /v "$_"

> logfile2.txt

 

I prefer date time fields to be sortable, YMMV.

[Guest PCR]

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

Re: batch commands work in Win XP but not 98

 

eganders wrote:

| On Mar 3, 7:52 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:

|> eganders wrote:

|>

|> | Why do the following commands result in garbage stored in

|> | tractest.txt for Windows 98, but puts the date and time headings

|> | into the file "tracetest.txt" for Windows XP as I want? Can these

|> | statements be changed in some way so that the date and time are

|> | stored in the file properly?

|> |

|> | date >> tracetest.txt < nul

|> | time >> tracetest.txt < nul

|>

|> Instead of nul, try to input the ENTER key-- but I don't know how to

|> do

|> it! (Nul, for me, created a monstrosity of a file! No one else should

|> ever try it!)

|>

|> Alternatively, look for something

|> here...http://home7.inet.tele.dk/batfiles/batfiles.htm

|>

|> But I haven't been able to find it, myself, after 1/2 hour's study!

|>

|> | I have a batch file that puts the date and time in the header of a

|> | section of a file prior to running a test. I need to identify the

|> | date and time that the test is run. Each time the test is run, the

|> | date and time are placed in the file and the test and the results

|> | are stored in the file appended to the results of the last test

|> | run. This works just fine for Windows XP, but creates a long file

|> | filled with garbage characters when either of these statements are

|> | run for Windows

|> | 98.

|> |

|> | microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion

|>

|> --

|> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> Should things get worse after this,

|> PCR

|> pcr...@netzero.net

|

| Someone suggested

|

| echo %date% >> tracetest.txt

| echo %time% >> tracetest.txt

|

| for Windows XP and it created a much better header of just the date

| and time instead of a bunch of garbage around it.

|

| However, does it work with Windows 98?? I don't have Windows 98

| handy. Can someone try it and let me know if those two statments work

| in Windows 98 without causing it to chock?

 

Nope. As Lee said, more work is necessary to make those work in

pre-irradiated OS's. HOWEVER, looks like Zabcar has solved it with not

horribly convoluted healthy Win98 DOS code...

 

C:\>echo.| date | find "Current" >> filename.ext

 

C:\>type filename.ext

Current date is Wed 03-05-2008

 

C:\>echo.| time | find "Current" >> filename.ext

 

C:\>type filename.ext

Current date is Wed 03-05-2008

Current time is 8:20:14.25p

 

OR, you can go & use Terhune's somewhat more horribly convoluted .vbs

way.

 

| Thanks

 

You are welcome.

 

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net